The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-01
MERCER UNIVERSITY.
a Large Graduating Glass and a Fine
Baccalaureate Address.

a Large graduating CLASS ana a FINE
Baccalaureate Address.
MACON, GA, June 3O.-The MORNING
NEWS has already had the leading facts of
the forty fifth anniversary of Mercer Uni
verslty and the accompanying commence
ment exercises, which have been the lead
ing events in Macon the present week Mer-
Ger is gradually but surely taking root in
the South, and steadily increasing in popu-
larity Including the sub-freshman class,
numbering thirty, $50 young men have
drawn inspiration from it during the past
collegiate year.
The largest class, thirty-three, ever gradu-
se>d from the University, was that of this
yeas. They left, not before receiving, in his
baccalaureate address, the wisest and most
tender and appropriate admonitions from
their revered President, Rev. A. j. Battle,
ID. D., as to their future walk in life. They
are a fine body of young men, and the vale
dictorian, Mr.. Robert e. Ryals, who bore
away the first honor, and several other
speakers whose names it would be invidious
to mention, reflected great honor upon the
institution.
Mercer University, named in honor of its
founder. was chartered and organized in
1896 Planted originally at Pentield, Ga,
it was removed, after the war, at the earnest
solicitation of her citizens, to Macon. 1t
has graduated over 700 youths, of whom
1876 are ministers of the gospel. Of her
alumni, 525 still survive, a majority resid-
ing in the Southern States, but some on the
other side of Mason and Dixons line, and a
few beyond the border OF the Union, i'll dis
tant Canada
In many instances they have grandly
illustrated Georgia and their alma mater in
the executive chair, upon the tented field, in
State and national legislation, in the pulpit,
at the bar, in the judiciary, on the hastings,
as agriculturists, merchants and manufac-
tureTs and, in short, every field where
genius, enterprise and probity are in requi-
sition OF the faculty it can be said that in
proportion to number, it would be difficult
TO find their peers at any seminary of learn
ing in the country.
The accomplished President, Rev. A. j.
Battle, D. d., is the author of an admirable
treatise upon 1.-THE Will," and a model dis
ciplinarian and typical Southern gentle
man In literary and society circles, also,
he is potent factor for good in the com
munity. For fifteen years he has occupied
his exalted position, and is more strongly
enurenched than ever in the confidence and
affections of the people.
OF Prof. S. p. Sanford, who graduated from
Franklin College in 1888, and for forty mine
years has devoted his life and eminent abili-
ties to Mercer, it is scarcely necessary to
speak His reputation as an author and
mathematician is national, and the best evil
dence of this is that even iron-clad Maine has
adopted his admirable series of textbooks
for her common schools. The sales of these
books during the past year footed up GA, 900
volumes.
Prof. j. E. Willet, who for forty long
years has graced his chair, is Justly CON
sidered an authority in natural history. As
an entomologist his Investigations of the
origin and habits of the cotton caterpillar
and the best means of destroying this dire
full pest, under a commission from the gem
eral government, are too well known for
comment.
The philosopher and learned logician,
Prof j. j. Brantley, for more than twenty
years has given all the powers Of his acute
intellect to the service of the uni
versity. Having charge of the Bellies
Lettre department, his plastic hand
was plainly to be discerned in
the distinct utterances, good grammar and
graceful gesticulation of nearly all the ora
tors who spoke at the commencement
Prof. w. g. Manly, who succeeds, in the
chair of ancient languages, the lamented
Stee1, albeit, young man, greatly distin-
guished himself at the University of Vir-
ginia, and has already won a high reputa-
tion as linguist and thorough instructor.
Prof. Ryals, the popular divine and
ledfneu IileOlOglan, mas occupied Une cna1f
of theology for, four years, and eternity
only can reveal the power and efficacy of
his faithful teachings.
Prof. Emerson George, who conducts the
preparatory school, is also a ripe scholar
and skillful teacher. In short, as above
stated, the entire faculty of Mercer will
compare favorably with any other corps of
educators North or South.
The address before the literary societies
by Rev. R. II. Harris, of Columbus, Ga,
was replete with wit and fervid eloquence.
He was for the ''old South" all the time, and
so is the writer
Hon. Lloyd Cleveland, of Griffin, Ga,
delivered the sophomore and junior medals
in an impassioned speech, sparkling with
oratorical gems. The commencement ser
mon of DIR. Ellis, of Baltimore, won golden
opinions.
Next year Mercer will celebrate her semi
centennial anniversary and the trustees
have determined to signalize the occasion
with many new and striking improvements
TO their time honored institution 1t will be
a grand reunion of the Baptists of Georgia.
II II r